Spindle drive for spinning frames



Feb. 16, 1932. A. AMBYE 1,845,900

SPINDLE DRIVE FOR SPINNING FRAMES Filed March 12, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l\nvenTor.

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Feb. 16, 1932. A. AMBYE SPINDLE DRIVE FOR SPINNING FRAMES 4 Sheets-Sheet2 |nvenTon Anthori Ambye $1M Afiys.

Filed March 12, 1930 Feb. 16, 1932. A. AMBYE SPINDLE DRIVE FOR SPINNINGFRAMES 4 sheets She'et 3 Filed March 12,

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Feb. 16, 1932. A. AMBYE 1,845,900

SPINDLE DRIVE FOR SPINNING FRAMES Filed March 12, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 443 lnve nTor. AnThon Ambye WWW TW ATTys.

Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTHON AMIBYE, FANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 DAVIS & FURBER MA- CHINE COMPANY, OFANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS SPINDLE DRIVEFOR SPINNING FRAMES Application filed March 12, 1930. Serial No.435,152.

This invention relates to spinning frames and particularly to means fordriving the spindles thereof, and has for its general object to providea drive which will maintain a uniform speed and tension in all of thebands with a consequent uniformity of twist in the yarn produced by eachspindle.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a spindle drive whichmay be reversed in the direction of rotation without changing thespinning conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spindle drive which isparticularly adaptable to spinning frames having a moving spindlesupport and a fixed ring rail.

A further object to the invention is to pro vide a spindle driveemploying two positively driven drums acting to drive the spindledriving bands thereby delivering a maximum of power thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in a spinningmachine having a moving spindle support to maintain a coaistant tensionin the driving bands and maintain the bands in driving relation to thespindles as the support moves.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a means common to allthe driving bands acting to direct them into the plane of the whorls onthe spindles.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means in a movingspindle spinning frame to maintain positive alignment of the tensioningpulleys with relation to the driving drums durin movement of thespindles.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the number of adjustmentsrequired to 'ause the bands to maintain proper running engagement withthe various elements of the drive.

A further object of the invention is to provide idler drums which engageall of the hands simultaneously to direct them into the plane of thewhorls.

A further object of the invention is to provide means desirably in theform of an auxiliary driving band acting to drive the idler drums fromthe driving drums thus assisting in driving the spindle bands at thedesired uniform speed.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the friction and wear atthe tensioning pulley bearings by adding sufficient weight to the pulleyitself to avoid the necessity of an external weight thus reducing to aminimum the pressure at the pulley bearing.

Other objects and features will more fully appear from the followingspecification in connection with the accompanying drawings and will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In preparing yarn for various purposes especially for use in weaving afabric the quality'of the fabric depends directly upon the accuracy anduniformity with which the spinning operation is performed. It has becomean exact art to adjust the spinning frame to produce a yarn of anydesired weight and character. It is, however, another problem to designa spinningdevice which will respond in a manner to produce a productfrom every spindle that is uniform and of the desired character.

Much of the lack of uniformity in the operation of such machines is dueto a variation in speed of the spindles caused by imperfect drivingconditions or by variation in frictional resistance throughout theelements of the mechanism or by a combination of such abnormalconditions. The present invention aims to reduce such defects or theeffect thereof to produce a more uniform product.

In order to transmit a maximum of power to the driving bands, means areemployed which cause a maximum area thereof to engage the drivingelements. The driving elements are preferably one or more driving drums.Vhere two of such drums are used they are connected together to rotatepositively at the same surface speed. In order further to increase thearea with which the bands engage the driving drums a tensioning pulleyengages the hand between the driving drums in such a relative positionto the drums that the bands engage the drums with a maximum portion oftheir area. The tensioning pulleys are supported in a novel manner topreserve their axial alignment and permit a freedom of motion suflicientto maintain a uniform tension in the bands.

simultaneously. By the use of such idler drums a more uniform drive 1sestablished which will hereinafter be more fully described. c

A. preferred form of the elements of the invention and those elementsclosely associated therewith are herein illustrated. The more remotelyrelated elements are or may be of standard construction well known tothose skilled in the art.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a group of spindles illustrating the elementsof the band drive therefor.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the one form of the invention illustratingin dotted lines the upper position of the lifting spindle rail.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the axis of'the tensioning pulley.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view showing a modified form of tensioningpulley.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation similar to that shown in Fig. QUillustratingan additional feature of theinvention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the machine showing a preferred method ofmounting the tensioning pulley.

I Fig. 8 is a detail planview of the arm supporting the tension pulley.

Fig. 9 is a detail View showing the manner in which a stop functions tolimit the movement of the arm about its pivot.

The invention in some of its aspects is adaptable to the usual type ofspinning frame in which the ring rail is moved to produce a symmetricalmass on the bobbins carried by p the spindles as the spun yarn is woundthereon. It is particularly adapted, however to the lifting spindle railtype of machine in which the yarn mass is formed by moving the spindlesbodily. Such a machine is herein presented in which the spindles l arepreferably arranged in groups, each group being driven by a driving band2. Power is transmitted to the band 2 in a novel manner. Drums 3 and aare rotatably mounted in the upper part of the frame and are engaged bythe band 2. .One or desirably both of these drums are driven from themain drive of the machine not shown. If'one is thus driven power istransmitted to the other by means of the chain 5 running on two sprocketwheels 6 and 7 fixed respectively to the drums .3 and 4. Other means,however, may be employed positively to .drive one drum from the other.

In the construction herein presented the ring rails 8 are fixed in adefinite position while the spindles 1 have a relative motion therewith.The spindles 1 are mounted on a movable frame work composed oftransverse supports 9 located at suitable intervals throughout thelength of the machine upon which lon itudinally disposed spindlesupports 10 are secured. Any suitable mechanism may be employed to givethe spindles the required motion, and inasmuch as such mechanism formsnopart of the invention, it is not shown and will not be described.

he whorls 11 on the spindles of each group are located in a common planein order to be driven by the driving band 2 which is directed into thatplane by means of rotating guides mounted on the shafts 12 which aresupported'on the transverse supports 9. The rotating guides may beindividual direction pulleys associated with each band. independently ormay be in the form of idler drums 13 and 14 extending longitudinally ofthe length of the machine, and rotatably mounted on the shafts 12. Theidler drums 13 and 14 act as guide pulleys'for each of the bandsthroughout the machine to direct them into the plane of the whorls 11.

A tensioning pulley 15 must be employed to maintain a. constant tensionin the bands. Such pulley must be free to move bodily and actautomatically to take up the slack therein. The pulley 15 engages thehand between the two driving drums. Thecourse of the band as it drivesthe spindles is therefore as follows. Assuming the. direction in whichthe band is moving to be that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the bandfirst'passes over the drum 3 then extends downwardly around thetensioning pulley l5, and upwardly and over the drum 4 passing downagain to the idler drum 14 from where it passes to the two right handspindles, then crosses the full width of the machine to engage the twoleft hand spindles of the group, and'from there passes to the idler drum13 and returnto the driving drum 3. It is apparent that insuch aconstruction a substantial portion of the area of the driving bands isin contact with the driving drums. As a consequence a maximum of powermaybe transmitted to the bands with a minimum of slippage.

In some types of spinning devices much troubleis encountered when it isdesired'to reverse the direction of rotation of the spindies. In manycases it has required extensive readjustment of the parts and hasresulted in irregularityof operation. In the present device thesymmetrical arrangementof parts and the increased efiiciency of the thetotal weight of the spindles and associated parts must be lifted to givethe required motion to the spindles. Considerable power is thus consumedand strain imposed upon parts. The present invention minimizes thisdisadvantage which is inherent in all machines of this type. The tensionset up in the hands by the tension pulleys acts through the bands tocounterbalance a portion of the weight of the spindles and theirsupporting mon'ibers by creating an upward pull in the run of the handbetween the idler drum 141 and the driving drum 4, and also thatextending between the idler drum 13 and the driving drum 3. Furthermoreas the band is driven in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 thetension in the run of the hand between the drum 13 and the drum 4 set upby the power delivered thereto by the driving drums tends to lift thespindles. and thus counterbalance still more of the weight thereof. Itis in this portion of the band the maximum tension exists since thatportion is nearest to the application of power, and the resistanceoffered by the various elements of the drive act accuinulatively at thisportion of the band.

If the mechanism is rotating in the opposite direction the sameconditions obtain in the band extending between the idler drum 141 andthe driving drum 4..

Much of the lack of uniformity in operation of the spinning frame is dueto variation in speed of the spindles caused by slipping of the handsand inequality of frictional resistance in the elements of themechanisln. The action of the drums 13 and 14 overcome this irregularityto a large extent. Since the drums engage each of the bands throughoutthe machine simultaneously they act to drive all of the bands at an evenspeed, and counteract any tendency of the bands to run at differentspeeds.

An important feature resulting from the use of idler drums is thereduction in labor of setting up the spindle drive. Heretofore it hasbeen necessary to make accurate and individiuil adjustment of all theidler or direction pulleys in order to keep the bands i from running offthe various elements in the drive. In the present construction thetension pulleys for each band are the only points at which adjustmentmust be made. Further to increase the effectiveness of the drive, an

i 1 auxiliary driving band 1.6 may be employed which functions to drivethe idler drums from the driving drums, and thereby assists in drivingthe spindle driving hand through their contact with the idler drums.Other means may be substituted for the auxiliary 16 is preferablysubstantially wider than the spindle driving bands 2 thus establishingan effective drive from the driving drums to the idler drums.

A constant tension is maintained in the auxiliary band by means of atension pulley 17 acting in the same manner as the pulleys 15. Thecourse of the bandlti is similar tothat of the spindle driving bandswith the exception that it does not pass around the spindle whorls, butpasses over idler pulleys 18 and 19 which are rotatably mounted onshafts 20 and 21 respectively. The shafts 20 and 21 are supported insuitable bearings 22 on the transverse spindle supports 9. One or moreof these auxiliary bands may be employed and are conveniently locatedbetween successive groups of spindles.

The idler pulleys 18 and 19 are situated closely adjacent the idlerdrums 13 and 14 and so positioned relatively thereto as to cause theband 16 to embrace a substantial portion of the drums. The idler drums13 and 14. are thus driven at a surface speed equal to therequired speedof the spindle driving bands. By reason of their contact with the idlerdrums the spindle driving bands are restrained from moving at any speedfaster or slower than the required speed. As a result of this conditionall of thespindles are driven at a uniform rate of speed.

The means of mounting the tension pulleys 15 and 17 are alike, and maybe of any suitable construction which. will preserve their axialalignment with relation to the driving drums, and automatically take upslack in the bands. A novel manner of mounting them is herein shown,however, in which the pulley 15, for example, is rotatably mounted upona stud shaft 23 rigidly secured in a sliding block 24 which isaccurately fitted upon and adapted to slide lengthwise of an arm 26pivoted to a fulcrum shaft 27 fixed in an upright boss 28 on thetransverse spindle support 9. To align the pulley when assembling thedriving mechanism the arm 26 is adjusted along its fulcrum shaft untilthe band runs properly, and is then secured lengthwise thereof by meansof collars 29.

The block 2 1 is so fitted to the arm 26 that it may freely movelengthwise thereof, and at the same time maintain the axis of the pulleyin proper axial relation to the driving drums. It will be noted thatupon completing the adjustment of the tension pulleys, no otheradjustments must be made to'insure the proper running of the bands sincethe idler drums are placed in permanent alignment when installed in themachine.

To provide the necessary tension a weight 30 is hung on the end of ahook 31 which has a horizontal portion 32 at its upper end projectinginto an axial aperture 33 in the stud shaft 23. A preferredconstructionof the tension pulley is shown in Fig. ,4 wherein the pulley 34 isitself of the correct weight to set up the proper tension in the belt.As a result of this construction substantially all of the pressure isremoved from the pulley bearing, thus reducing wear at this point to aminimum value.

By providing for free movement of the block 24 along the arm 26 the axisof the tension pulley may move in a vertically straight line as the arm26 swings about its fulcrum point during the movement of the spindlesand their supporting members. The perfect symmetry of the drive is thuspreserved at any positions of the spindles. The abovedescribed'refinement in the construction of the machine provides furtherassurance that when a reverse twist is desired all that is necessary tobe done is to change the direction of rotation of the driving means.

A preferred construction of tensioning pulley support is illustrated inFigs. 7, 8 and 9 wherein the pulley 34 is supported upon a flexiblearmi35 which is pivotally mounted on a support 36 which desirably is inthe form of a round bar extending throughout the length of the machineto receive all of the tensioning pulley arms. The support 36 is securedin suitable bosses 37 upon a fixed part of the machine frame. ()ne endof the arm 35 is bifurcated to form the legs 38. The legs 38 are drilledto form bearings upon which the arm 35 is pivoted. A collar 39 issituated between legs 38 and is fixed to the shaft serving topreventmotion of the arm along the support 36.

At the bottom of the collar a stop shoulder 40 is formed which limitsthe swing of the arm to a point where the stop shoulder 41 on the armengages the stop 40 as shown in dotted lines Fig. 9. This position maybe varied by rotating the collar 39 about the support 36 and securing itin place by means of the set screw 42.

The arm 35 is composed of two sections 43 and 44; The free end of thesection 43 is received by the bifurcated end 46 of the section 44. A pin47 passes through the two sections with its axis perpendicular to theplane in which the arm swings. The hearings in the legs 38 of thebifurcated end of the arm 35 are accurately fitted and the pivot pointis also fitted to close limits thus insuring that no part of the armwill deviate from the plane in which it is intended to move, and willthus maintain accurate axial alignment of the pulley 34 which ispivotally mounted on the outer end of the section 44 of the arm 35.Bymeans of such construction the pulley 34 is free to move bodily in anydirection within a limited area of the definite plane in which it isadjusted to move.

The wide andaccurate bearings provided between the arm and the rodsupport 36, between the two sections 43 and .44 of the arm,

:5 and between the arm and the pulley insure that the pulley axisthroughout its movement shall always remain in parallelism to the drumsand to itself, thus obviating any hoisting or binding action on thebelt.

The pulley 34 is similar to the pulley 17 and is of sufiicient weight toset up the desired ten'sion'in the band, and thereby relieve the pulleybearing of the greater part of the pressure which would be set up in thecasewhere an external weight is used to create-tension in the band.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and esiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a ring spinning frame a stationary ring rail, groups of spindlesprovided with bobbins and having whorls in a common plane, a supporttherefor movable to form a mass of yarn on said bobbins, a singleband todrive eachgroup of spindles, two driving drums rotatably mounted on afixed part of the frame situated remotely from the plane of said whorls,a tensioning pulley engaging said band as it passes from one drum to theother and acting to form a loop in the hand between the two drums andmaintain the band at a uniform tension as said support moves, and meanson said support acting to direct the band as it passes to and from saiddriving drums into the plane of said whorls.

2. In a spinning frame, groups of spindles having whorls in a commonplane, a single driving band for each group, two driving drums connectedtogether to rotate positively at the same surface speed over which theband passes situated outside the plane of said whorls, a tensioningpulley engaging the band as it passes from one drum to the other andacting to form a loop in the band between said driving drums andmaintain a uniform tension therein, means to direct the band as itpasses to and from said drums into the plane of said whorls, and meansacting to maintain said tensioning pulleyin axial parallelism with saiddriving drums and permit it to move bodily in a vertical line.

3. Ina ring spinning frame, a stationary ring rail, groups of spindlesprovided with bobbins and having whorls in a common plane, a supporttherefor movable to form a mass of yarn on said bobbins during thespinning operation, a single band'to drive each group of spindles, twodriving drums rotatably mountedon a fixed part of the frame situatedremote from the plane of said whorls, a tensioning pulley engaging saidband as it passes from one drum to the other and acting to form a loopin the band between the two drums and maintain the band at a uniformtension as said supportmoves, means to maintain said tensioning pulleyin axial parallelism with said drums and permit it to move bodily in avertical line, and,

means on said support acting to direct the band into the plane of saidwhorls.

4. In a ring spinning frame, a stationar" ring rail, groups of spindlesprovided with whorls in a common plane, a support there- :tor movablerelatively to said ring rail to :lorm a mass of yarn on said spindles,two driving drums rotatably mounted on a fixed part oi? the framesituated remotely from the plane of said w'hin-ls, a single band todrive each group oi? spindles, a tensioning pulley engaging said band asit passes from one drum to the other and acting to form a loop in theband between the two drums and maintain a uniform tension therein assaid sup port moves, and idler drums engaging simultaneously each ofsaid hands to direct them as they pass to and from said driving drums into the plane of said whorls.

5. In a ring spinning frame, groups of spindles llilViIltzj whorls in acommon plane, a single driving band for each group, a driving drumsituated outside the plane of said whorls over which the band passes,idler drums engaging simultaneously each of said hands to direct them asthey pass to and from the driving drum into the plane of said whorls,and means acting to drive said idler drums from said driving drum at aconstant speed and counteract any action of the spindle bands to varythat speed thereby to equalize the speed of all the spindle bands.

(3. In a spinning "frame groups of spindles having whorls in a commonplane, a single spindle drivin g band for each group, a driving drumsituated outside the plane of the whorls over which the band passes, twoidler drums engaging each of said bands simultaneously to direct theminto the plane of said whorls, one or more auxiliary bands passing oversaid driving drum and engaging said idler drums to drive them at aconstant speed and counte act any action of the said spindle bands tovary that speed thereby to equalize the speed of all the spindle bands.

7. In a spinning frame groups of spindles F having whorls in a commonplane, a single spindle driving band for each group, a driving drumsituated outside the plane of the whorls over which the band passes, twoidler drums engaging each of said bands sin1ul taneonsly as they pass toand from said driving drum to direct them into the plane of said whorls,one or more auxiliary bands passing over the driving drum and engagingsaid idler drums acting to drive them at a constant speed and counteractany action of the spindle bands to vary that speed thereby to equalizethe speed of all the spindle bands, and idler pulleys associated witheach idler drum around which the auxiliary bands pass as they leave orapproach said idler drums to provide a continuous path therefor whichenihraces both idler drums.

8. In a spinning frame groups of spindles having whorls in a commonplane, a single spindle driing band for each group, two

driving drums situated outside the plane of said whorls over which saidbands pass, a tensioning pulley for each band engaging the hand betweensaid driving drums acting to maintain a uniform tension therein, twoidler drums engaging each of said bands simultaneously to direct theminto the plane of said whorls, one or more auxiliary bands passing oversaid driving drums and engaging said idler drums acting to drive them ata constant speed and counteract any action of the spindle bands to varythat speed thereby to equalize the speed of all of said spindle bandsand idler pulleys associated with each idler drum around which theauxiliar bands pass as they leave or approach the id er drums to providea continuous path 1 therefor which embraces both idler drums.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ANTHON AMBYE.

